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An autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own healthy cells and tissues, thinking they are foreign invaders like viruses or bacteria.
🧬 What Happens in Autoimmune Disease?
Normally, your immune system defends you against infections. But in autoimmune conditions, it:
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Loses its ability to distinguish self from non-self
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Produces autoantibodies that target your own tissues
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Triggers chronic inflammation that leads to tissue damage
🩺 Common Autoimmune Diseases
Here are some well-known examples:
| Disease | Body Part Affected |
|---|---|
| Rheumatoid arthritis | Joints |
| Lupus (SLE) | Skin, joints, kidneys, brain |
| Type 1 diabetes | Pancreas (insulin-producing cells) |
| Multiple sclerosis (MS) | Brain and spinal cord (nerves) |
| Hashimoto’s thyroiditis | Thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) |
| Graves’ disease | Thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) |
| Psoriasis | Skin, sometimes joints (psoriatic arthritis) |
| Celiac disease | Small intestine (reaction to gluten) |
| Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) | Gut (Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis) |
⚠️ Symptoms Vary Widely
Depending on the disease, symptoms can include:
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Fatigue
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Joint or muscle pain
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Rashes or skin issues
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Digestive problems
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Brain fog
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Swelling or inflammation
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Hormonal imbalances
🧠 What Causes Autoimmune Disease?
There’s no single cause, but factors include:
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Genetics (family history)
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Environmental triggers (infections, toxins)
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Chronic stress
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Hormonal shifts
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Diet and gut health (leaky gut or microbiome imbalance)
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Gender – Women are more affected than men
🛠️ Can It Be Treated?
Autoimmune diseases can’t be cured, but:
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Symptoms can be managed
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Flares can be reduced or prevented
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Lifestyle, medication, and functional medicine approaches help manage inflammation